
LIV Golf Tour Shifting The Landscape Of The Sport
Day three of the inaugural Saudi-backed LIV Golf event is here with a first winner set to be crowned on the rebel tour. Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel has seized the lead entering the home straight, ahead of compatriot and Stinger teammate Hennie Du Plessis. Dustin Johnson’s charge fell a little short, but the former World No 1 remains in contention, with the winner pocketing $4m.
The final day of play comes as more players are expected to jump ship from the PGA Tour. On Friday, Bryson DeChambeau was announced as the latest star to join the breakaway series and it followed the confirmation from the PGA Tour that rebel players who participate in this or any future LIV Golf event have been suspended with immediate effect.
The stunning news further entrenched both sides in the battle that threatens to change the sport as we know it and was welcomed by players such as Rory McIlroy, who has remained committed to the PGA. It came as Ian Poulter, one of the 17 golfers sanctioned by the PGA Tour, stated his intention to appeal the suspension. “It makes no sense,” Poulter said. “I didn’t resign my membership because I don’t feel I have done anything wrong. I have played all over the world for 25 years. This is no different … it’s a power struggle and it’s just disappointing.” Follow all the action from the final day of the inaugural event of the controversial tour, below:
LIV Golf: Final round
Well that was quite the eventful ninth hole, at least in comparison to the rest of the front nine. Schwartzel landed himself in bother with his tee shot that went left. After cutting out of danger, he pinned a lovely approach pitch to within six feet and calmly steps up to knock down the par.
A faultless opening nine holes from Schwartzel and the South African is halfway to the $4.8 million prize.
Jamie Braidwood11 June 2022 16:54
LIV Golf: Final round
Schwartzel ends his run of pars at seven… with a birdie at the eighth. It came after the shot of the day from the South African, who is now five shots clear.
Jamie Braidwood11 June 2022 16:34
LIV Golf: Final round
Schwartzel has perhaps played the shot of the day from the left-hand rough at the par-four eighth, cutting it back inside to set up a birdie chance from six feet.
Johnson then rattles the pin with a bunker shot, only to see if a couple of feet away for his par.
Jamie Braidwood11 June 2022 16:28
LIV Golf: Final round
Peter Uihlein, who is also playing in the final group, moves alongside Du Plessis with a birdie at the seventh hole, as the South African hangs around with a long, long par putt at the same green.
And there’s another par for Schwartzel – his seventh in a row.
Jamie Braidwood11 June 2022 16:17
LIV Golf: Final round
Ah, so our first dropped shot of the day in the leading group. Hennie Du Plessis landed himself in trouble in the long grass on the bank above the sixth green. His chip down rolled to 15 feet or so and was follwed by bogey.
Schwartzel responds by sinking a tricky eight-footer for par. The South African is now four shots clear.
Jamie Braidwood11 June 2022 15:59
LIV Golf: Final round
Well, at this tournament they say “don’t blink” but if you had nodded off for the first hour and a half of play you would not have missed much. The top of the leaderboard remains as it was at the start of the day.
Jamie Braidwood11 June 2022 15:48
LIV Golf: Final round
Johnson, at the seventh, once again stretches back in frustration after another birdie putt stops an inch or two short of the hole. Sergio Garcia had fired himself into the top 10 at -1 but looks to be in some trouble in the long rough.
Jamie Braidwood11 June 2022 15:45
LIV Golf: Final round
Mickelson has gone +3 over his first five holes and is up to +7. The American thuds a tee shot into the gorse and looks set for further trouble.
(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood11 June 2022 15:39
LIV Golf: Final round
The likes of Craig David, Jessie J and James Bay have or are all taking part in ‘after-party’ concerts at Centurion Club after the day’s play – which has just been compared to Glastonbury by the tournament broadcasters.
Bit of a stretch.
Jamie Braidwood11 June 2022 15:36
LIV Golf: Final round
Schwartzel stands over a 15 foot birdie putt uphill but gives it a nod after leaving it a couple of feet short. Four holes down, so four pars for the tournament leader – who isn’t being put under much pressure from those behind him. Johnson, meanwhile, scrambles to par after finding a green-side bunker.
Jamie Braidwood11 June 2022 15:27